Loose leaf binder



May 15, 1934. G, H, DAWSON ET AL 1,958,568

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed June 19, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 650265 164 flan/50m P401. 0 UA/GEQ A TTORNEY.

y 1934- G. H. DAWSON ET AL 1,953,568

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed June 19, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TORS A TTORNEY.

Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Glen Ellyn,

Ill., assignors to Wilson-Jones Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 19, 1933, Serial No. 676,412

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder and has particular reference to an improved hinge structure for the same.

It is an object of this invention to provide a metal hinge for loose leaf binders that will have a neat appearance and will be able to withstand hard use. It is a further object of this invention to provide a hinge that will allow each cover of the binder to be swung through an angle of 180 degrees. It is a further object of this invention to provide a metal hinge that will not scratch or mar the finished surface of a desk. It is a further object of this invention to provide a hinge member that will protect the edge of the back member. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a binder embodying our invention;

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line II--II of Figure 1 with the sheets removed;

Figure 3 is anexploded view of the hinge structure;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the outer back plate; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective of a cover showing a modified hinge structure.

In the drawings the reference numeral '2 indicates a back plate which is provided with a plurality of transverse slots 3 (Figure 3). An outer back plate 4 is provided with a plurality of tongues 5 struck therefrom to register with the slots 3. The outer back plate 4 is covered with leather or suitable fabric 6. The edges '7 of the covering 6 are clamped between the back plate 2 and the outer back plate 4. I

A conventional ring metal 8 is secured to the back member by the tongues 5 which project through the slots 3 in the back plate and through similar slots (not shown) in a spring plate 9 constituting a part of the ring metal. The ring metal includes divided rings 10 adapted to receive a plurality of sheets 11. The rings 10 are rigidly secured to a pair of toggle plates 12 which are secured in the spring plate 9. Accordingly, when the tongues 5 are bent down against the inner surface of the spring plate 9 the entire ring metal assembly, the back plate 2 and the outer back plate 4 are all secured together as a unit.

The longitudinal edges of the back plate 2 are recessed, as indicated at 13, Figure 3, and the projecting portions are curled outwardly to form hinge barrels 14. As shown in Figure 2, the outward curling of the edge causes the hinge barrel 14 to lie in the plane of the back member. This results in a much neater appearance and also protects the edge of the back member. The appearance of the inside of the binder when opened is also enhanced by the unbroken surface area of the back plate 2 from the edge of the back plate to the edge of the cover plate 15 of the ring metal.

The binder is provided with a pair of covers 16 hinged on opposite edges of the back member. The covers 16 are duplicates of each other so only one will be described. The cover consists of a stiff board 17 of any suitable material. A metal plate 18 is rigidly secured to the board 17 by means of a plurality of prongs 19 which are struck from the plate 18 and penetrate into the board 17 a substantial distance. A covering 20, preferably of the same material as the member 6, is secured over the outer surface of the board'l'l. A lining member 21 covers the inner surface of the board 17 and the top of the plate 18.

The plate 18 has a plurality of integral metal straps which are curled outwardly to form hinge barrels 22 which project beyond the edge of the cover member 16 and register with the recesses 13 adjacent the hinge barrels 14. The hinge barrels 22, as shown in Figure 3, are of less length than the recesses 13. V

The outward curl of the hinge barrels 14 and 22 causes the hinge to lie much lower than in the case with ordinary metal hinges. This enables each of the covers 16 to be swung through an angle greater than 180 degrees without binding against the edge of the back member although the covers are mounted considerably closer to the back member than is usual with metal hinged 'loose leaf binders.

The complementary hinge barrels 14 and 22 are swingably connected by means of a hinge pintle 23. The difference in length between the recesses 13 and the relatively short hinge barrels 22 is taken up by a plurality of rounded bearing members 24 which are threaded on to the pintle wire 23 on each side of each short hinge barrel 22.

The ends of pintle wire 23 are peened over to prevent the end bearings from coming off the wire. If desired, the end bearings may have a hole drilled only part way through so that they may be driven on the wire and may expose a closed end.

The bearings 24 are of slightly larger diameter than the hinge barrels 14 and 22 so that it is virtually impossible for any of the hinge barrels to come in contact with a desk or other polished surface regardless of how it is handled. The bearings also make it impossible for anyone to cut their finger on the sharp edge of the hinge barrels.

The modified form of cover structure shown in Figure 5 is similar to that previously described except for the metal plate 18. This plate has hinge barrels 22' projecting beyond the edge of the cover 16. However, the edge of the metal plate 18' between the hinge barrels 22 is bent downwardly, as indicated at 25, to cover the edge of the cover 16 and to reinforce the edge against bending.

Although we have described our new hinge structure With particular reference to a stiff cover ring book, it will be obvious that the advantages of the hinge structure may be utilized in con-v nection with loose leaf binders embodying different types of sheet retaining mechanisms. It is also possible to use our new hinge structure with flexible or semi-flexible covers. In the latter case the metal plate 18 may be secured to the cover in any suitable manner.

While we have described preferred embodiments of our invention in detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrative rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of our invention. Accordingly, we do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described except as limited by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a loose leaf bindena back member including two superimposed metal plates, one of said plates being covered with any suitable material, the longitudinal edges of the other plate being curled outwardly to form hinge barrels adapted to protect the edges of said covered plate.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a cover member, a metal plate rigidly secured to said cover member, a metal back plate, said plates being curled to form complementary hinge barrels, a pintle extending through said hinge barrels, and means on said pintle to prevent the edges of said hinge barrels from marring' any surface on which the binder may be placed.

3. In a looseleaf binder,'a cover member, ametal plate rigidly secured to said cover member, a metal back plate, said plates being curled to form complementary hinge barrels, a pintle extending through said hinge barrels, and a bearing member 'of larger diameter than said hinge barrels adjacent each end of every hinge barrel.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a cover member, a metal plate rigidly secured to said cover member, a metal back plate, said plates being curled to form complementary hinge barrels, the combined length of said hinge barrels being less than the corresponding length of said binder, a pintle extending through said hinge barrels, anda plurality of bearing members of greater circumference than said hinge barrels mounted on said pintle.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a metal back plate, a hinge barrel integral with said plate, a cover member, a plurality of hinge barrels extending beyond one edge of said cover member, a pintle extending through each of said hinge barrels to secure said cover member to said back plate, and a rounded bearing member of larger diameter than said hinge barrels on each end of said pintle.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a pair of cover members, metal hinge barrels extending from the edges of said back member and from one edge of each of said cover members, a pintle connecting each of said cover members to one edge of said back member, and a plurality of bearings on each of said pintles, said bearings being rounded and of larger circumference than said hinge barrels to prevent the edges of said hinge barrels from marring polished surfaces.

'7. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a relatively long hinge barrel integral with said back plate, a cover member, a metal plate secured to said cover member, a plurality of relatively short hinge barrels integral with said metal'plate extending beyond the inner edge of said cover member, a pintle extending through said hinge barrels, and a bearing positioned on each side of said short hinge barrels, said bearings being of larger circumference than said hinge barrels.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate, a longitudinal edge of said back plate beingcurled to form a hinge barrel, a recess in said barrel, a cover member, a metal plate rigidly secured to said cover member, said metal plate being provided with an integral strap of less width than said recess projecting beyond the edge of said cover member and curled to form a hinge barrel, a pintle extending through said hinge barrels to secure said cover member to said back plate, and

a bearing member on said pintle between said hinge barrels.

9. In a loose leaf binder, a back plate having an edge curled to form a hinge barrel, a recess in said barrel, a cover member, a metal plate rigidly secured to said cover member, a strap of less width than said recess extending from said plate and curled to form a hinge barrel, a pintle extending through said hinge barrels, and a bearing member fitting in said recess on each side of said second mentioned hinge barrel, said bearing members being of larger circumference than said hinge barrels.

10. In a. loose leaf binder, a back member including two-superimposed metal plates, 2. sheet of flexible material covering the outer surface of the outer plate and having its edges clamped between said plates, the longitudinal edges of the inner plate being curled outwardly to form hinge barrels which conceal the joint between the edges of the superimposed plates.

GEORGE H. DAWSON. PAUL O. UNGER. 

